HF 170

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 01/26/2023 11:47pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; modifying requirements for interpreters; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2022, section 122A.31, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 122A.31, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Requirements for American sign language/English interpreters.

(a)
In addition to any other requirements that a school district establishes, any person employed
to provide American sign language/English interpreting or sign transliterating services on
a full-time or part-time basis for a school district after July 1, 2000, must:

(1) hold current interpreter Next deleted text begin and deleted text end new text begin or new text end transliterator certificates awarded by the Registry of
Interpreters for the Previous Deaf Next (RID), or the general level Previous interpreter Next proficiency certificate awarded
by the National Association of the Previous Deaf Next (NAD), or a comparable state certification from
the commissioner of education deleted text begin ; deleted text end new text begin , new text end and

deleted text begin (2) deleted text end satisfactorily complete an Previous interpreter Next /transliterator training program affiliated with
an accredited educational institution deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (2) hold a Previous certified Next Previous deaf Next Previous interpreter Next certification issued by RID.
new text end

(b) New graduates of an Previous interpreter Next /transliterator program affiliated with an accredited
education institution new text begin or Previous certified Next Previous deaf Next interpreters who hold a certification issued by RID new text end
shall be granted a two-year provisional certificate by the commissioner. During the two-year
provisional period, the Previous interpreter Next /transliterator must develop and implement an education
plan in collaboration with a mentor under paragraph (c).

(c) A mentor of a provisionally Previous certified Next Previous interpreter Next /transliterator must be an
Previous interpreter Next /transliterator who has either NAD level IV or V certification or RID Previous certified Next
Previous interpreter Next and Previous certified Next transliterator certification and have at least three years new text begin of
new text end interpreting/transliterating experience in any educational setting. The mentor, in collaboration
with the provisionally Previous certified Next Previous interpreter Next /transliterator, shall develop and implement an
education plan designed to meet the requirements of paragraph (a), clause (1), and include
a weekly on-site mentoring process.

(d) Consistent with the requirements of this paragraph, a person holding a provisional
certificate may apply to the commissioner for one time-limited extension. The commissioner,
in consultation with the Commission of the Previous Deaf Next , DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing, must
grant the person a time-limited extension of the provisional certificate based on the following
documentation:

(1) letters of support from the person's mentor, a parent of a pupil the person serves, the
special education director of the district in which the person is employed, and a representative
from the regional service center of the Previous deaf Next and hard-of-hearing;

(2) records of the person's formal education, training, experience, and progress on the
person's education plan; and

(3) an explanation of why the extension is needed.

As a condition of receiving the extension, the person must comply with a plan and the
accompanying deleted text begin time line deleted text end new text begin timeline new text end for meeting the requirements of this subdivision. A
committee composed of the Previous deaf Next and hard-of-hearing state specialist, a representative of
the Minnesota Association of Previous Deaf Next Citizens, a representative of the Minnesota Registry of
Interpreters deleted text begin of deleted text end new text begin for new text end the Previous Deaf Next , and other appropriate deleted text begin persons deleted text end new text begin committee members new text end selected by
the commissioner must develop the plan and deleted text begin time line deleted text end new text begin timeline new text end for the person receiving the
extension.

(e) A school district may employ only an Previous interpreter Next /transliterator who has been Previous certified Next
under paragraph (a) or (b), or for whom a time-limited extension has been granted under
paragraph (d).

new text begin (f) An Previous interpreter who meets the requirements of paragraph (a) is "essential personnel"
as defined in section 125A.76, subdivision 1.
new text end